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Страна : Великобритания

Год : 1924

Единственный экземпляр

Flight, July 1924

THE SHORT "LIGHT 'PLANE TWO-SEATER
Bristol "Cherub" Engine

   GRADUALLY the machines being built for this year's light 'plane competitions at Lympne are beginning to take form. We believe that three or four are almost finished, and are only waiting for engines, while others are in various stages of progress, ranging from those designed but the construction of which has not been begun, to those nearing completion. By the courtesy of Short Brothers of Rochester, we are able to lay before our readers this week the first illustrated description to be published of the Short monoplane two-seater, which this firm has designed and is constructing at their Rochester works.
   The Short light 'plane two-seater is an ordinary monoplane, if by "ordinary" one understands a monoplane in which the wing is neither of the "parasol" nor of the "low" type. Apart from the fact that the machine is a cantilever monoplane, i.e., without external wing bracing, the Short machine is of interest on account of the fact that the fuselage is built entirely of Duralumin, following the same method that has been successfully employed in the Short "Silver Streak," "Springbok," and, more recently, in the little twin-engined light flying boat described and illustrated in FLIGHT on April 17, 1924. By this form of construction, originated by Mr. Oswald Short, the outer covering, which is of Duralumin sheet, is riveted to circular or elliptical rings of L-section which form the "frames" of the structure, the outer covering or planking resisting the stresses, assisted by longitudinal stiffening strips, which do not, however, run through from end to end, but are interrupted at the frames. In the two-seater light 'plane the fuselage is of elliptical cross-section, and should have a very low head resistance, as the shape is particularly smooth.
   The wings of the first machine have spar flanges of laminated mahogany, with three-ply walls, but later machines of this type will probably have spars built up of high-tensile steel strip, thus making it entirely metallic, with the exception of the fabric wing covering. The ribs are also of Duralumin, in the form of sections built up to form a "Warren girder." The two halves of the monoplane wing are bolted to strong fuselage frames by fish-plates and large-diameter hinge pins so as to facilitate dismantling. The wing section employed is a high-speed section over the outer half of the wing, gradually changing into a deep section at the root, where the maximum stresses occur. The ailerons extend the whole length of the wings, and are operated by torsion tubes and rods. A variable camber device is fitted which enables both ailerons to be pulled down together, while still retaining their differential aileron action. The controls for varying the camber, as well as the usual aeroplane and engine controls, are in duplicate, so that the machine may be piloted from either cockpit.
   The undercarriage is of simple V-type, with shock-absorbers in the form of rubber blocks in compression, incorporated in the front "legs." The wheels are standard "Palmer" type, measuring 450 mm. by 60 mm.
   The Bristol "Cherub" engine is mounted in the nose of the fuselage, on an aluminium alloy casting, and the whole cowled-in to give a clean entry for the air. The small-diameter propeller is fitted with a spinner. Behind the engine there is a fire-proof bulkhead, aft of which are mounted the petrol and oil tanks. Fuel supply is by gravity feed. The capacity of the petrol tank is approximately 3 1/2 gallons.
   Later on we hope to have an opportunity of publishing a more detailed description of this interesting machine, illustrated by sketches and photographs. In the meantime the following brief specification may be of interest: Length, o.a., 23 ft. 9 ins.; wing span, 34 ft.; chord, 5 ft. 6 ins.; wing area, 168 sq. ft.; weight of machine empty, 483 lbs.; useful load, 367 lbs.; total loaded weight, 850 lbs.; wing loading, 5.05 lbs./sq. ft.; power loading, 30-4 lbs./b.h.p. The estimated top speed is 73 m.p.h. and the stalling speed 37 m.p.h. It would appear that both are very conservative estimates.

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Описание:

  • Flight, July 1924
    THE SHORT "LIGHT 'PLANE TWO-SEATER
  • Flight, September 1924
    THE SHORT LIGHT MONOPLANE (No. 8)
  • Flight, September 1926
    British Light ‘Plane Development & Lympne Meeting
  • Фотографии